By Patrick Akhere Ebojele, PhD
When Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo took the oath of office in November 2024, he inherited an education sector burdened by years of neglect — collapsing classrooms, demoralized teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and struggling tertiary institutions. Today, just over a year later, the narrative has changed dramatically. Edo State’s education system is now undergoing one of its most ambitious transformations in decades, and it is this sweeping turnaround that has earned Governor Okpebholo the New Telegraph Award for Best in Education.
This recognition is also a clear validation of his administration’s SHINE Agenda, the development blueprint guiding governance in Edo State. Education sits at the heart of SHINE because it drives every other sector — security, economic growth, innovation, social stability, and sustainable development. Okpebholo’s reforms show that SHINE is not a slogan, but a working framework delivering visible results.
For many observers of the Okpebholo government, the award is not a surprise. Education has emerged as one of the strongest pillars of his administration, not just in words but in measurable action. From early childhood to tertiary education, his government has rolled out policies and programmes that are redefining how learning is delivered, funded, and experienced across the state — all in line with SHINE’s focus on human capital development and social advancement.
At the heart of this reform is a simple but powerful belief: no society can rise above the quality of its education. Okpebholo made this principle central to his governance blueprint, treating education not as a social service alone but as an economic and developmental investment — a core objective of the SHINE Agenda’s prosperity and empowerment pillars.
The governor’s first major moves was a statewide audit of public schools. What emerged was a sobering picture — dilapidated buildings, leaking roofs, broken furniture, poor sanitation, and learning environments that discouraged both teachers and students. Rather than issue routine statements, the administration moved quickly into action, reflecting SHINE’s emphasis on action-oriented governance and institutional renewal.
Within his first 100 days in office, Okpebholo launched a massive school rehabilitation programme that targeted over 100 schools across Edo State. Classrooms were rebuilt, roofs replaced, water facilities restored, toilets upgraded, and school fences repaired. This was not cosmetic intervention. The goal was to create safe, functional, and dignified learning spaces where students could thrive and teachers could teach with pride — a practical expression of SHINE’s infrastructure and social development pillars.
As the months passed, the rehabilitation programme expanded. More schools were added, especially in rural communities in the three senatorial districts, that had suffered years of abandonment. Science laboratories were refurbished, and digital learning tools began to find their way into classrooms. The physical transformation of schools has become one of the most visible legacies of the Okpebholo administration and a clear reflection of SHINE’s commitment to equitable development across all communities.
But infrastructure alone does not educate children — teachers do. Recognising this, the governor placed teacher welfare and recruitment at the centre of his education reforms. Thousands of teachers who had served on contract for years were converted to permanent staff, bringing long-awaited job security and regular income. New teachers were recruited to fill staffing gaps, reduce classroom overcrowding, and improve learning outcomes — aligning directly with SHINE’s human capital and social protection objectives.
For many educators, this shift marked a turning point. Teachers who once struggled with irregular pay and poor working conditions now speak of renewed motivation and professional pride. Training programmes were also introduced to upgrade teaching skills, align classroom practices with modern standards, and prepare educators for digital learning environments — supporting SHINE’s innovation and capacity-building goals.
While basic education received urgent attention, Okpebholo did not overlook the crisis facing tertiary institutions. Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, the flagship state university, had been grappling with chronic underfunding, unpaid salaries, infrastructure decay, and student unrest. The administration responded decisively by increasing the institution’s monthly subvention from ₦41 million to ₦500 million — a historic jump that instantly stabilised operations and demonstrated SHINE’s focus on institutional sustainability and economic growth through education.
With improved funding, staff salaries were cleared, academic activities normalised, and critical infrastructure projects revived. Plans for a 1,500-seat lecture theatre and a 600-bed hostel were unveiled, aimed at easing overcrowding and improving student welfare. Administrative bottlenecks that had delayed the graduation and induction of medical and nursing students were resolved, allowing hundreds of young Edo citizens to proceed to national service after years of uncertainty — reinforcing SHINE’s vision of opportunity, inclusion, and social mobility.
The governor’s reforms extended beyond funding to systemic efficiency. Digitalisation was introduced into student records, certificate verification, and academic documentation, reducing fraud and making it easier for graduates to access their credentials anywhere in the world. This aligns squarely with SHINE’s innovation pillar, positioning Edo State’s education system for global competitiveness.
Access and inclusion have also defined Okpebholo’s education agenda. Recognising the dangers posed by out-of-school children, especially in underserved communities, the administration rolled out initiatives designed to bring young people back into classrooms. Free learning materials, community engagement campaigns, and partnerships with federal agencies were deployed to reduce dropout rates and expand enrolment — advancing SHINE’s commitment to inclusive development and social equity.
In higher education, collaboration with the Federal Government’s NELFund programme ensured that students were no longer sent home due to unpaid fees, easing the burden on families and allowing students to focus on their studies rather than survival. This reflects SHINE’s core belief that economic hardship should not block access to opportunity.
Another distinctive feature of Okpebholo’s education policy is the reintroduction of indigenous languages into school curricula. By reviving the teaching of Edo languages, the administration is strengthening cultural identity, preserving heritage, and enriching students’ cognitive development. This move aligns with SHINE’s emphasis on social cohesion, cultural sustainability, and community inclusion.
Vocational and technical education has also received renewed attention. The administration is repositioning technical colleges and skills acquisition centres to meet modern labour market demands, ensuring that students who choose vocational pathways graduate with employable skills. This approach aligns education with job creation, entrepreneurship, and economic diversification — key pillars of the SHINE Agenda.
Beyond policies and projects, what stands out is the coherence of the governor’s education strategy. Infrastructure, teacher welfare, student access, tertiary revitalisation, digital innovation, and cultural inclusion are not treated as isolated interventions but as interconnected components of a single vision: to build an education system that produces competent, confident, and competitive citizens — the human foundation of SHINE’s prosperity goals.
This holistic approach has not gone unnoticed. National leaders, education stakeholders, and international partners have commended Edo State’s progress under Okpebholo. The state’s Commissioner for Education has also received international recognition, reflecting the global resonance of the reforms underway and the credibility of Edo’s education transformation.
It is against this backdrop that New Telegraph’s decision to honour Governor Monday Okpebholo with the Best in Education Award must be understood. The award is not based on promises or political rhetoric but on visible, measurable, and impactful transformation across the education sector — and on the clear alignment of these reforms with the SHINE Agenda.
In just over a year, Edo State has moved from educational stagnation to purposeful renewal. Schools that were once unsafe are now functional. Teachers who were once uncertain about their future now work with stability and confidence. Students who faced exclusion now have renewed access to learning. Universities that were once in crisis are now regaining stability and academic focus.
For parents, the changes mean safer schools, better teachers, and brighter prospects for their children. For teachers, it means dignity, job security, and professional growth. For students, it means opportunity, hope, and the tools to compete in an increasingly complex world.
As Governor Okpebholo prepares to receive the New Telegraph Best in Education Award, the honour serves as both recognition and responsibility — recognition of achievements already recorded and responsibility to sustain and expand these gains. The education sector is dynamic, and reform is a continuous process. But if the past year is any indication, Edo State’s future under Okpebholo’s leadership looks intellectually brighter and structurally stronger.
In a country where education often struggles for attention amidst competing priorities, Edo State is proving that with focused leadership, political will, and strategic investment, meaningful change is possible. That is why Governor Monday Okpebholo is being celebrated — not just as a politician, but as an education reformer whose work, guided by the SHINE Agenda, is reshaping lives, communities, and the future of Edo State.
Ebojele is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo